Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-03-18
IN THE TREASURY.
HOW THEY MAKE, AND TAKE CARE
OF UNCLE SANS MONEY.


notes is manufactured at "Glen
Mills.r near Philadelphia, and is
conveyed TO Washington by the
Adams Express Company, who
have the coutraci for carrying the
4 Government moneys aud securities.
When this precious paper arrives
m the Treasury it is placed in the
hands of young ladies for counting.
The plates used for printing this
paper are made in the basement of
the Engraving and Printing Bu'
reau, large brick building Of
RomanesQue style, located on the
corner of Fourteenth and b streets,
and cost 100000. This division
of the Bureau is fitted up with the
best appliances for executing the
fine plates required. Here IS Il
massive vault for these plates,
which are locked mp at night The
encravers are guarded by watch
men who lounge in comfortable
armed chairs and keep their eyes
fixed on the blocks of steel and
copper while they are being en-
eraved. All the employees are as
closely watched as if they were ln'
mates Of a prison, each being re-
ouired to perform fixed amount
of work in a day. Many men of
eenins aud skill are required to
perfect single plate. One prepares
the plate Of the portrait, another
the lettering, and still another
the ornamental work, and so on
until every part Of the work has
been performed. These plates are
made of soft steel, and after the
pictures have been made on them,
they are put through a hardening
process. Rolls of soft steel are
then prepared, and by a powerful
press the pictures, which the artists
have engraved, are transferred to
the steel rollers. The rolls are
then hardened and placed in anoth
cr press over a fiat plate of soft
steel, where a pressure of five or
six tons, if necessary, can be ap-
piled. This plate is then hardened
and polished, and is ready for use.
One of these plates can be used for
thirty thousand Impressions
When they are worn out and unfit
for use, they are destroyed in the
presence Of Joint committee OF
Treasury officers and members of
Congress.
THE MARBLE CASH ROOM OF THE
TREASURY BUILDING.
This room is spacious, and stu
ated on the first floor, and is beau
tifully constructed Of seven vaTie-
ties of polished marble. 1t is a
palatiai banking office, and all of
ITS appurtenances princely and
beautiful, and is the most magnif-
cent room in the world for such a
purpose. 1t Is seventy.twO feet
long, thrty.twO feet wide, and
twenty.seven feet SIX inches high,
exclusive of the upper cornice. A
costly counter extends the full
length OF the room. a dozen cash.
iers daily disburse from ten to
twenty million dollars in payment
Of Government checks, warrants,
and securities. The cashing of
warrant for one million dollars is
no unusual thing. A balcony ex-
tends around the cash room, which
visitors can enter by ascending to
the second floor, and there enjoy
seeing the cashiers making the pay
ments.
THE REDEMPTION ROOM.
This room is devoted TO count
ing mutllated currency aud detect
ing counuerieits, aud is busy and
interesting place. Worn and mu-
tilated bank notes unfit for service
are here examined previous to be-
ing destroyed. The counting is
done solely by ladies, who acquire
marvellous skill in manipulating
the work. They sit at long tables,
on which bank notes are thickly
spread. The first work of each
lady, when these packages Of mon.
ey are received, is to compare their
number with the inventory that ac-
companies them. After closely
scrutinizing and counting every
note in the package, she cIassifies
them and puts strap on each
package, and marks it with her in
itials, the date, "shOrts," towers
and "counterfeits." They are after
wards turned over TO officials who
cancel them by means OF machines
which punch them full Of holes.
Then the "dead" currency is placed
in water until it is reduced to a
mass of paper pulp. After which
it is given to a special officer to be
burned.
The Lord Mayors Mistake.
The lord mayor, few years ago
was trying case at the Mansion
house. Not satisfied with thS
testimony OF a witness, he eau
toned him 10 be careful, saying